Congress
Dems introduce bill to protect feds’ credit scores during shutdowns
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said he was inspired to draft the legislation after hearing from TSA workers whose inability to pay their bills during the 78-day partial government shutdown hurt their credit scores even after they began receiving back pay.
Easing USPS handgun shipping rules will exacerbate crime, warns Democrat
Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., is challenging the Postal Service’s plan to treat handguns like rifles and shotguns.
Contracting association warns it could take DHS until the end of the year to ‘get back on track’ following record-breaking shutdown
The Professional Services Council also reported that several contracting companies faced the threat of closure due to missed reimbursements from the government as a result of the funding lapse.
Coast Guard officer promotion advanced by Senate Republicans despite IG finding of whistleblower retaliation
Commander Jesse Millard was approved in committee on a party-line vote, despite Senate Democrats demanding that his promotion be withdrawn.
IRS whistleblower program set for possible overhaul after bipartisan House vote
The measure would reshape how claims move through the system, how court reviews are handled and how payments are ultimately made. Over its history, the program has recovered about $7.5 billion.
Former civil servants aim to shape policy as members of Congress
Dozens of federal employees who left or were pushed out of government in 2025 are now running for office.
Senators demand OPM withdraw plan to access feds’ medical records
More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers warned that a little-scrutinized proposal to collect claims-level data related to the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs could violate federal law and doctor-client confidentiality.
USDA is moving forward with various reorgs despite legal questions and bipartisan concerns
“This might be the best idea since sliced bread, I don’t know,” one Republican said.
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Vought defends fiscal 2027 budget request, as Democrats criticize OMB for violating spending law
The Trump administration proposed a 10% reduction to spending on non-defense agencies.
House Dems: OPM ‘omitted’ employee departures from retirement backlog investigation
In responding to a December 2025 congressional inquiry, the Office of Personnel Management noted the separation of around 35 customer service representatives last year, but failed to mention more than 100 departures from its Retirement Services division.
Top Oversight Dem criticizes OPM’s forced distribution plan for federal worker appraisals
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., said that the federal government’s dedicated HR agency failed to sufficiently grapple with past OPM policy or the wealth of research finding that forced distribution models for performance appraisals is counterproductive to organizational health.
Nearly 200 employees could move to Alabama this year under a Space Command plan
April will see the ribbon cut on a new top-secret facility that will serve as its headquarters, its commander told lawmakers.
New bills would extend whistleblower protections to more feds
The measures specifically deal with civil servants who investigate and report wrongdoing in their normal duties and ones who work for government corporations.
DHS nominee clears key Senate hurdle, setting up final confirmation vote
Final vote on Markwayne Mullin's nomination could come as soon as Monday as the department remains shut down.
Inspector general’s reported plan to run for Congress is a Hatch Act violation, lawmakers and ethics orgs say
Federal employees are not permitted to run for partisan office or to prepare for such an election.
Record-smashing $1.5-trillion spending proposal will fund only the ‘most essential things’: comptroller
The Pentagon’s acting CFO also said that just a sliver of the $153 billion reconciliation funds remains unallocated.
Nearly $1 stamps? Lawmakers contemplate how to avert USPS financial crisis
During a hearing, officials testified that the Postal Service will likely run out of money without congressional intervention.
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Union and lawmakers criticize HUD’s handling of HQ move as questions go unanswered
Employees and Democratic senators claim HUD officials have not been forthcoming with operational or budget details related to the move to Virginia, which they argue could run afoul of federal law.
Education Department staff cuts have hurt service rather than streamlined bureaucracy, say opponents on 1-year mark of RIFs
Lawmakers and education advocates at Wednesday’s press conference also emphasized that the department has hired back some employees, and Congress rejected many proposed funding reductions at Education.
Bipartisan bill would authorize the Secret Service to reimburse state and local police for assistance
The Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement that local law enforcement often work with the Secret Service but have to rely on their own resources.
Kristi Noem misled Congress about top aide’s role in DHS contracts
Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Noem denied that Corey Lewandowski had any role in approving contracts. But internal DHS records and interviews with current and former agency staffers contradict her testimony.
